National Health Leader to Lecture at SLU

Howard Koh, M.D., M.P.H, the Assistant Secretary for Health and the highest ranking health professional in the U.S., is coming to SLU to present a lecture on health care reform. The presentation, from 3 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12 in the health sciences education union auditorium, is open to the University community.

Dr. Howard Koh

Koh, who has worked across multiple health disciplines to lead efforts in health reform will speak on "Prevention in the Affordable Care Act...and Beyond."

"This lecture offers an opportunity for the SLU community to listen to and engage with one of top health leaders on one of the most important issues of our time -- health care reform," said Edwin Trevathan, M.D., MPH, dean of the School of Public Health.

"SLU students and faculty from all areas will have the chance to participate in a conversation with our country's highest ranking health professional about the future of health care. Those from public health, medicine, nursing, allied health professions, health care ethics and health law might particularly be particularly interested in attending the talk and hearing of the changes that could directly impact their careers."

The office of the Assistant Secretary of Health is dedicated to the mission of creating better public health systems for prevention and care so that all people can attain the highest standard of health within their reach.

As Assistant Secretary for Health, Koh oversees the Office of the Surgeon General, 14 public health offices, 10 regional health offices, and 10 presidential or secretarial advisory committees. He also serves as the senior public health advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Koh assumed the position in 2009. He previously served as the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health. He was also Director of the Harvard School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness.

Koh is the author of more than 200 articles in the medical and public health literature in areas such as disparities, cancer control, melanoma and skin oncology, tobacco control, public health preparedness, disease prevention and health promotion and public health leadership. Koh is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.